Matthieu Paley

Matthieu Paley – Photographer & Visual Storyteller. Born in France, Matthieu Paley has spent the past 25 years traveling the world for National Geographic, documenting remote cultures and human resilience. Having lived in Asia for over two decades, he has focused his work on regions often misrepresented, with a deep commitment to preserving diminishing cultures, self-sufficient communities, and the profound connection between spirituality and the environment. For over a decade, Matthieu undertook extreme mountain expeditions to capture the unforgiving life of the Afghan Kyrgyz nomads, one of the most isolated communities on Earth. His dedication to visual storytelling led to yet another ambitious National Geographic feature, taking him across radically different environments—from the Arctic to dense jungles, vast savannas to high-altitude deserts. He documented how self-sufficient communities sustain themselves, exploring how their quest for food shapes their way of life. This project became a Nat Geo Live presentation, amassing millions of views on YouTube. Throughout his career, Matthieu has worked on dozens of stories for National Geographic, covering topics such as food culture, human migration, air pollution, and, more recently, spirituality in a film project. A recipient of numerous awards—including the 2017 World Press Photo Award, the Photographer of the Year International Award, and American Photography 2022—Matthieu has published several books, and his fine art photography has been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide. He also shares his expertise by leading photography workshops across the globe. Fluent in six languages, Matthieu uses his linguistic skills to forge deep connections with the people he photographs, bringing authenticity and intimacy to his storytelling. Instagram: @paleyphoto (500k+ followers) Website: www.paleyphoto.com